Posts Tagged ‘Fires’

Wildfire activity has rendered especially severe impacts to certain areas of California since October 8, including areas of Napa, Sonoma and Solano Counties. Wildfire activity has also rendered impacts to areas of Orange County east of the Los Angeles Metro area. Rates of extreme fire spread were enabled by especially dry conditions together with offshore gusty winds to burn a total of at least 217,566 acres since October 8. Media reports indicate at least 41 fatalities, making this the deadliest series of fires in California history. At least 5,700 structures have been destroyed and thousands more remain under threat. Containment efforts have made significant progress in the last week, thanks to efforts of at least 10,000 firefighters and reduced winds. Cooler conditions with an increase in moisture are expected this week with a chance for some precipitation over Northern California, according to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS); this should support containment efforts. It will take some time to fully ascertain the full scope and severity of this event, and our first thoughts and concerns are with those lost and directly affected.

Wildfire activity has recently rendered severe impacts to areas of California, including the Napa Valley area as well as areas east of the Los Angeles Metro area. The event is still developing, but media reports indicate more than a thousand structures burned with thousands more still under threat. At least 13 fatalities have been reported. Rates of extreme fire spread have been enabled by especially dry conditions together with offshore gusty winds.

Wildfire activity has rendered severe impacts to areas of Sevier County, Tennessee including the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas. The fire activity began late Sunday on Chimney Tops Mountain as a 10 acre fire that grew at an extreme rate Monday evening due to strong, gusty winds. Wind gusts well in excess of 60 mph carried embers a considerable distance to start new fires in extremely dry vegetation from recent drought. Gusty winds also brought trees down onto powerlines sparking new fires in surrounding dry vegetation.

The Bluecut and Clayton fires have caused significant impacts to affected areas and pose an ongoing serious threat to life and property. No serious injuries or deaths have been reported, however, the fires have destroyed multiple structures. Our first thoughts and concerns are with those directly affected by this event.

Recent rainfall and cooler temperatures have helped to reduce spread of the wildfire that recently rendered devastating impacts to Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Nevertheless, the fire continues to grow outside the city and has now claimed 2,020 square kilometers (790 square miles), according to media reports. A general trend of cooler temperatures is expected through this week, before another warming trend next weekend.

Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada has suffered widespread and severe impacts as a result of wildfire activity. Media reports indicate that over 80,000 people have been evacuated. No serious injuries or deaths have been reported, however, the fire has destroyed homes in several neighborhoods. Our first thoughts and concerns are with those directly affected by this event.

Guy Carpenter today released a new briefing that assesses wildfire risk in the United States. The briefing,U.S. Wildfire: An Ever Present Hazard, provides insight into the ongoing threat of wildfires in the U.S. as well as risk mitigation strategies and portfolio modeling for this peril.